I think they were right to backtrack and allow the student to wear the sweatshirt. It didn't contain an obscenity or racial slur, and while the message might be considered proactive by some, I would think that in a public school she has a right to display something that she considers to be about pride and community.

Also, I think a lot of these slogans are meant to be a kind of flippant riff on the milk ads and are pretty harmless. "Got rhythm? Thank a poet."

It actually first happened last school year, the end of the 2012-2013 school year. A good GF of mine is a teacher there and I remember her telling me about the big hubbub over it last summer when I went down for my high school reunion. Apparently a bunch of (white) kids told their parents, and two called the school to complain and demand they ban her from wearing it to school.

Now for some reason it has flared up again and made national news. Typical! That is the media for you.

Background- the school is a 'community school'- meaning native kids are bussed into town from neighbouring reserves. The province as a whole has 10% native population and 90% non-native- but at this school the population of native kids is about 50%. So race relations is more of an issue than at most other schools. For the most part, according to my GF, it works well, they have lots of cultural education and activities that all students attend...but there are a lot of problems too. The reserves are quite rough, and social problems with those kids are common, so it's to be expected.

This girl likely knew damn well she was going to cause a problem wearing this. It's like sticking your hand in a hornet's nest and complaining when you get stung, somewhat.

She was purposely stirring the pot and no suprise that people complain....most of the families in this area are rural farming families whose great grandparents were pioneers to this country....there is a lot of defensiveness to go around...and racism on BOTH sides.

Overall, I imagine most of the town is embarassed about the whole thing. It doesn't exactly make either side look good.

It seems a pretty righteous statement, to me. There must be some t-shirt slogans that could be made about slavery, too. Indignation belongs to those that deserve to have it. I say, let her wear the sweatshirt and teach a few people some things.

Wow!!! Thanks for your very interesting post! I grew up on the Great Plains, 10 miles north of Comanche, Oklahoma, and knew the story of Quannah Parker ('Eagle of the Comanches') and Comanche and Kiowa lore in general but knew nothing about the treaty between the German settlers of Fredricksburg, Texas and the the Comanches. Thanks for this very interesting and timely post! (I signed the petition)

There are still a number of Native Americans in the PNW. They have banded together to form the Grande Ronde tribes. They have land parcels, are fairly powerful within the state legislature. The native lands are considered separate from the USA. The Deschutes river borders the Warm Springs reservation, and US soil. On the US side, fly fishing only, catch and release. On the warm Springs side, angling with bait, nets, or spears is legal for Native American citizens. The Oregon State police are not allowed to enter the reservation without permission and the Tribal police patrol their own lands. US citizens are not allowed to even land a boat on left side of the river, or the boat and all it's gear can be confiscated by Tribal police.

Both sides are free to enter and exit via a bridge. No alcohol is allowed on the reservation. It is highly illegal. It is in fact treated as a foreign country.

I have 2 nephews that are half Chinook. Part of the confederated tribes of the grand ronde. The word 'Indian' is a slur to them. They correct me every single time I say it. "Not Indian, uncle Dana. Native." They go to the pow wow every year, and get native monies, free college tuition and the whole bit.

There are still a number of Native Americans in the PNW. They have banded together to form the Grande Ronde tribes. They have land parcels, are fairly powerful within the state legislature. The native lands are considered separate from the USA. The Deschutes river borders the Warm Springs reservation, and US soil. On the US side, fly fishing only, catch and release. On the warm Springs side, angling with bait, nets, or spears is legal for Native American citizens. The Oregon State police are not allowed to enter the reservation without permission and the Tribal police patrol their own lands. US citizens are not allowed to even land a boat on left side of the river, or the boat and all it's gear can be confiscated by Tribal police.

Both sides are free to enter and exit via a bridge. No alcohol is allowed on the reservation. It is highly illegal.It is in fact treated as a foreign country.

"'Indian' nations" are legally 'nations' ('countries') with which the United States government has signed 'international' treaties.